Men’s Hockey League Preview – 6 March 2022
All Premier Division games are being played on Sunday with Old Georgians looking to boost their eight point lead at the top of the Top 6 table when East Grinstead visit St. George’s College. Old Georgians won the two previous meetings by 7-0 and 5-0 margins and as they have been in superb goalscoring form this season, will be hoping for another convincing goal-fest.
Surbiton, holding off Wimbledon in second place on goal difference, travel to Holcombe, who narrowly missed out on grabbing all three points at East Grinstead last weekend, a late goal earning a 3-3 draw for the West Sussex club. A run of six successive wins was halted after Holcombe was forced to forfeit their away game at Hampstead & Westminster, and when the teams met at Surbiton on the opening weekend, Surbiton had to mount a comeback to win 6-4. Surbiton had to come from 2-0 down last week to see off Hampstead & Westminster 3-2 at home.
Wimbledon travel across London to Hampstead & Westminster, having lost 3-2 at home in their opening match of the season. Wimbledon won 3-1 on their last trip to Hampstead in October 2019, whilst Hampstead will want to bounce back from last week’s disappointing defeat at Surbiton.
In the Bottom 5, it’s Beeston’s turn for their first bye week. Oxted, a point above them with a game in hand make their first ever visit to Brooklands Manchester University, the teams having battled to a thrilling 4-4 draw in Phase One in Surrey. As with the other matchup, Durham University hosting the University of Exeter, there is very little national league history between the teams with the only previous meetings taking place in previous Promotion Tournaments. Durham and Exeter also drew when they met in Devon in Phase One, Exeter earning their only point of the season in a 3-3 draw.
